Switch-throw.



H. M. GHEEK.

SWITCH THROW. 7 APPLICATION FILED OUT 16,1909

Patented Feb. 1, 1910.

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SWITCH-THROW.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1, 191(1).

Application filed flctober 16, 1909. Serial No. 523,026.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY M. GI-IEEK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Little Rock, in the county of Pulaski and State of Arkansas, have invented a. new and useful Switch-Throw, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of this invention, to provide in a merchantable-and compact form, a device of the class above mentioned, which shall be inexpensive to manufacture, facile in operation, and devoid of complicated parts; specifically, the provision in a switch throwing mechanism of a bell crank lever of novel and improved construction, the bell crank lever being resilient, and being adapted to serve, at once, as a member of a mechanism connecting the switch point with car carried means for throwing the same, and to serve as a means whereby the switch point may be thrown without undue jar or vibra tion; other and further objects being made manifest hereinafter as the description of the invention progresses.

The drawings show but one form of the invention, and it is to be understood that changes, properly falling within the scope of what is claimed, may be made, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to denote corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings, wherein;

Figure l is a top plan, parts being broken away better to illustrate the structure; Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section upon the line A-]3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section upon the line 0-1) of Fig. 2, a portlon of the flooringof a car, and. the car carrled mechanism tor throwlng the switch, being shown as added details; Fig.

1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a por tion of the device, upon the line EF of Fig. 1; Fi 5 is a detail perspective adapted to show the cooperation between the car carried means for throwing the switch, and the star-wheel; Figs. 6 and 7 are top plans of a portion of the device, adapted to show the parts in different positions; and Fig. 8 is a vertical longitudinal section of a portion of the device, taken along the line E--F of Fig. 1, the observer being supposed to be looking in an opposite direction from that in which the parts shown in Fig. 4e are viewed.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly, to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the numeral 1 denotes the main line rails, the numeral 2 the slding rails, the numeral 3 the switch point, and the numeral 4 the guard rail. in carrying out the invention, a box like housing 5 is mounted between the rails, adjacent the switch point 3, and a similarly formed housing 6 is located between the main line rails 1, at a point remote from the housing 5, the housings 5 and 6 being connected by a tubular member 7. The housings 5 and 6 are provided, with lids 8 and 9 respectively, and it is to be understood that although the lids 8 and 9 are shown as flush with the surface of the right of way, the same may be disposed in any manner dictated by the exigencies of the particular case; and it is, moreover, obvious, that these housings 5 and 6, together with the closures therefor, may be varied in their constructions, to a wide range, without sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Disposed horizontally in the housing 5, and pivotally mounted therein, is a bell crank 10, the arms 11 and 1 1 of which are resilient. A rod 12 connects the extremity of the arm 11 with the switch point 3, and the extremity of the arm 11- is upbent as denoted by the numeral 15, and adapted to reciprocate in an eye 16, formed in one end of a rod 17, which is adapted to reciprocate in the tubular member 7 whereby the housings 5 and 6 are connected. The other end of the rod 17 extends into the housing 6, and is provided with a bearing 18 adapted for operative connection with a crank shaft 19 which is terminally journaledfor rotation inthe side walls of the housing 6.

Adjacent one end, a star-wheel 20 is secured to the crank shaft 19, the arms of the star-wheel projecting upwardly above the contour of the housing 6, it being noted that the lid 9 extends but part way across the housing 6 upon which it is mounted. A shield 21 is mounted upon the housing 6, and adapted to overhang the star-wheel 20, to protect the contents of the housing 6 against the elements. Adj acent the opposite side of the housing 6, a ratchet wheel 27 is secured to the crank shaft 19, a resilient, upwardly extending pawl 28, mounted upon the side wall of the housing 6, being adapted to engage the ratchet wheel 27.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 5, a portion of the flooring of a car is shown, and denoted by the numeral 22. In the floor 22 of the shield 21, and to engage, successively, the

arms 26 of the star-wheel 20.

It is of course to be understood, that, in particular instances, the specific form given to the member may be departed from. For instance, by removing the shield 21, a ditterent form of car carried means for tuating the device might be employed. This point will be clear to those skilled in the art, and I consider a specific delineation ot the same to be unnecessary.

I will now outline in a general manner,

the operation of the device.

As the car moves toward the switch point, should itbe desired to throw the switch point, the plunger 23 is depressed, so that the fingers 25 will pass beneath the shield 21, and engage successively, the arms 26 of the star-wheel 20, rotating the star-wheel. The rotation of the star-wheel will cause a rotation of the crank shaft 19, causing a reciprocation of the rod 17, the rod 17, in its reciprocation, tilting the bell crank 10 and causing the rod 12 to throw the switch point 3.

It has been pointed out hereinbefore, that one end of the rod 17 is adapted for a limited reciprocation, upon the upturned end 15 of the arm 14 of the bell crank. Let reference now be had to Fig. 1 of the drawings, wherein the switch point 3 is shown in contact with the siding rail 2, the switch point being set for the main line. The end of the arm 14 is shown in Fig. 1 in contact with one end of the eye 16 and it is to be understood that, when the parts are in the position shown, the arm 14 is under more or less tension, being retained in this position by the pawl and ratchet mechanism 2728. As soon as one of the fingers 25 engage one of the arms 26 of the star-wheel, the operation of the device will be begun, but, owing to the fact that the arm 14 of the bell crank 10 is under tension, the initial sliding movement of the rod 17 will, not alone by the contact between the finger 25 and the arm 26 of the star-wheel, but, as well, by the action of the resilient arm 14 of the bell crank, be begun.

A continued rotation of. the star-wheel 20 will cause the upstanding end 15 of the arm 14 to move, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, into a position intermediate the ends of the eye 16, the resiliency of the arm 14 having been exhausted. A still further rotation of the star-wheel 20, will cause the end 15 of the arm 14 to engage the opposite end of the loop 16, whereupon the throwing of the switch point 3 will be begun, the parts remaining in the position shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings until the throwing of the switch point is completed, it being understood that after the switch point 3 has been thrown, and the parts disposed as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, the arm 14 is under tension, so that it will be effective to aid in the initial movement of the rod 17 when the switch point is again thrown.

To analyze the movement of the rod 17, it will be seen that the same consists of three distinct steps. In the first instance, the rod is moved by the contact between one of the fingers 25 with the arm 26 of the starwheel, and the efiort of the resilient arm 14 of the bell crank. In the second instance, referring to Fig. 6, the rod 17 moves under the actuation of the star-wheel 2O alone, the resiliency of the arm 14 having been exhausted. And finally, the rod 17, under the impulse of the star-wheel 20 engages the extremity of the arm 14, tilting the bell crank 10, throwing the switch point 3, and ultimately placing the arm 14 under tension, in which position the parts will be locked by the means of the pawl and ratchet mechanism 27-28.

At the initial contact between the parts 25 and 26, the arm 14 aids in sliding the rod, thus preventing a straining of the parts of the device at the beginning of the operation. hen the resiliency of the arm 14 is no longer available, the star-wheel 20 will operate, at first, merely to slide the rod 17, and subsequently to throw the switch point and to put the arm 14 under tension.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that from the beginning to the consummation oi the operation, the strain upon the parts is graduated from the initial contact between the parts 25 and 26, gradually increasing to the time when the switch point is thrown and the operation completed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed 1. In a device of the class described, a bell crank having resilient arms; a rod having one end arranged for limited reciprocation upon one of the arms; a switch point connected with the other of the arms; means for operating the rod to throw the switch point and to put the first named arm under tension; and a locking device engageable by said means, to hold the first named arm under tension; the first named arm constituting a means for moving the rod when the engagement between the locking device and the operating means is broken.

2. In a device of the class described, a bell crank having resilient arms; a rod having one end arranged for limited reciprocation upon one of the arms; a switch point; a connection between the switch point and the other arm; a crank shaft operatively connected with the other end of the rod; :1 starwheel mounted upon the crank shaft; pawl and ratchet mechanism for limiting the rotation of the crank shaft; and car carried means arranged to engage the star-Wheel.

3. In a device of the class described, a housing; a crank shaft terminally journaled for rotation in the housing; a star-wheel mounted upon the crank shaft and arranged to extend above the contour of the housing; a shield assembled with the housing and arranged to overhangthe star-wheel; car carried means arranged to extend beneath the shield to engage the star-wheel; a switch point; and means opcratively connecting the crank shaft with the switch point to throw the latter upon the rotation of the former.

4'. In a device of the class described, a housing; a crank shaft journaled for rotation in the housing; a star-wheel mounted upon the crank shaft and arranged to extend above the contour of the housing; a shield mounted upon the housing and arranged to overhang the star-wheel; a car carried plunger having a laterally extending head; spaced fingers carried by the head and arranged to extend beneath the shield to en gage successively, the arms of the starwheel; a switch point; and an operative connection between the switch point and the crank shaft to throw the former upon the rotation of the latter.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signae ture in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY M. CI-IEEK.

\Vitnesses N. O'r'rENI-IEIMER, T. H. BROWN. 

